-LRB- InStyle.com -RRB- -- Singer Carrie Underwood dishes on dieting , beauty and fashion .

Carrie Underwood in a Michael Kors wool crêpe dress and Kenneth Jay Lane link bracelet .

1 . Always look the part

Most of the time I slap on some makeup in the morning so I do n't look bad if somebody snaps a picture . Somebody , somewhere , will catch you , even if it 's a fan at the grocery store . Very rarely do I go out without makeup .

2 . Keep a food diary

I 'm OCD like that . I count calories , fat and fiber -- which is important in making you feel fuller faster -- and protein , especially when I 'm working out . Watch how Carrie handles romantic distress ''

3 . Do n't be a dairy queen

Cheese is ruining my life ! I 'm trying to talk myself into being lactose-intolerant . I mean , it 's basically moldy milk , and it does n't smell that great -- but it 's so good ! Oh , jeez , I 'm thinking about it now ...

4 . Exercise your options

Always take an hour for yourself to go do something positive . I like the elliptical machine or swimming if I 'm in a hotel with a decent pool and there are n't too many people there . I also do the treadmill , free weights , exercise ball . If it 's a nice day , outdoor activity is nice . I get a bike and ride around . Plus , I get a decent cardio workout every night onstage .

5 . Do n't break the bank

I do n't buy expensive jewelry and fur coats and Escalades . I 've never bought a car in my life . The car I have , a Ford Mustang convertible , is the one I won on Idol -- I guess I need to go buy a new car after all !

6 . Smell yummy

I do n't do smelly soaps or wear perfume , so lotion is kind of my perfume . My favorite body lotion is Benefit 's Maybe Baby . It 's got a little shimmer in it . If I 'm dressing up I might use perfume . I have a couple by Anna Sui . And Gwen Stefani 's perfume -LSB- L -RSB- , is good too .

7 . Be a girlie girl

With makeup I think it 's important for girls to play . I mix a lot . I 'll put on lip gloss and go , `` That needs to shimmer . '' So I 'll put something shimmery on top . Then I want it a little pinker , so I put pink on top . But it all comes together . I 'm trying to lay off the black eyeliner , though -- I love it a little too much .

8 . Go with the flow

I tend to go after bigger , flowy tops or dresses . I know I 'm doing myself a disservice , but I 'd rather put on a muumuu and have people at least think there might be a skinny person underneath than put on something tight and have them think , Look at that gut !

9 . Laugh at yourself

Usually I come up through the floor to get to the stage . I ca n't stand up on the little platform or the audience will see me , so I 'm squatting down with my rear end pressed up against the back of it . I just laugh because the audience thinks this is so glamorous -- and here I am under the stage with these ropes and equipment , my butt pressed against plastic ! E-mail to a friend

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Singer Carrie Underwood uses lotion more than perfume

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She counts calories , fat and fiber ; cheese is her downfall

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Singer loves to play with makeup